Construction types. Clinker and carvel building

In this region, the characteristic clinker-built hulls of the
Eu-ropean Atlantic began to be replaced by flush-built hulls
in the period leading up to the Renaissance. The two building
techniques are conceptually opposed. Whereas in clinker
building, the outer planks of the hull are overlapped and an
internal structure added afterwards, in carvel building, a
technique which has survived to the present day, work begins
with the skeleton; this is then covered with planking which
is “carvelled” or joined together at the edges. There are
advantages and disadvantages to both techniques.
The main advantage of clinker is that freshly felled or green
timber can be used to build the hull, without requiring a
sealing process.
In carvel-built hulls, much more precise design of the shape
of the ship made it possible to optimise capacity. This feature
was particularly appealing for ships plying the new trading
routes to the Americas and Newfoundland.